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© Lewis Clarke (cc-by-sa/2.0 geograph.org.uk/p/7413631 Bampton : St Michael & All Angels Church |
As yet I've found no record of a marriage between Robert Flew (bap. 21 Jun 1801 in Rackenford, Devon), son of Richard Flew and Jane Wright and Mary Cottrell (bap. 5 Sep 1805 in Bampton, Devon), daughter of William Cotterell and Mary Wensley, but I've been able to piece together the following.
It appears Robert and Mary had at least these three daughters:
- Jane Flew b. ~1826
- Elizabeth Flew bap. 9 Oct 1831 in Bampton, Devon, listed as the daughter of Robert Flew and Mary.
- Ann Flew b. ~1835
Couldn't find baptisms for either the first or third child.
Robert Flew died, aged 36, in 1838 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 178 and was buried on 26 Jun 1838 in Bampton.
In 1841, Mary Flue (sic) (claiming to be 30, actually 36) Lace worker, was living in Frog Lane, Bampton with her daughters: Jane (14), Betsey [Elizabeth] (10) and Ann (6), as well as Emma Doding (13) and Eliza Doding (4). Unfortunately, in 1841, there is no indication of their relationships.
Robert Escott (bap. 1 Nov 1796 in Brompton Regis, Somerset) Widower, son of Richard Cox Escott and Mary Ann Gage, then married Mary Flew, Widow at the Parish Church of St Michael & All Angels, Bampton, Devon on 5 Dec 1847. Witnesses were Henry Cull and Richard Lewis Staddon.
However, it's clear that they had been together for some time before marrying, because they had at least three children together:
- Sarah Flew b. 1841 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 251
- Caroline Flew b. 1844 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 279
- Richard Escott b. 1848 S Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 10 Page 265, bap. Richard Henry Escott on 25 Jun 1848 in Bampton, son of Robert & Mary
On the two girls' births, there is no mother's maiden name listed, indicating these were out of wedlock. Caroline was unnamed at the time of registration. The mother's maiden name on Richard's birth is COTTRELL.
Robert Escott had previously married Grace Pitts (née Thorne), Widow, on 5 Dec 1823 in Brompton Regis. (So Mary Cottrell wasn't going to forget her husband's first name and Robert Escott shouldn't have forgotten his wedding anniversary.) Robert and Grace had two children: Richard Escott bap. 9 Mar 1824 and Mary Escott bap. 29 Jan 1826 in Brompton Regis. Grace Escott had died aged 54 also in 1838 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 150. In 1841, Robert Escott (40ish) and his daughter Mary Escott (15) had been lodging in Gate Street, West, Bampton. Grace Thorne previously married John Pitts on 21 Oct 1807 in Brompton Regis, with whom she had four sons: John Pitts b. 14 Jul 1808, bap. 14 Aug 1808; Thomas Pitts b. 7 Feb 1811, bap. 24 Mar 1811, buried 26 May 1811; William Pitts b. 4 May 1812, bap. 7 Jun 1812; and Thomas Pitts b. 29 Mar 1817, bap. 9 Nov 1817. John Pitts presumably died between 1817 & 1823.
In 1851, Robert Escott (50 ish) Agricultural Labourer, claiming to come from Morebath, Devon, was living in West Street, Bampton, Devon with Mary Escott (~44) Charwoman from Bampton, Devon; Sarah Escott (10), Caroline Escott (6), Henry Escott (2) and Jane Flew (24) Lace maker, Wife's daughter. Meanwhile, Robert's widowed father, Richard Escott (~85) was a lodger in the household of John Wensley (44) in Morebath, Tiverton - one assumes this was a relative of Mary Cottrell's mother. (Richard Escott of Furzy Cot in Kings Brompton died at 88 and was buried on 20 Mar 1856 in Brompton Regis.)
In 1861, Robert Escott (claiming to be 70, he was 65) Agricultural Labourer from King Brompton, Brompton Regis (formerly known as Kingsbrompton), Somerset was living in High Street, Bampton with Mary Escott (~60, she was 56), Caroline Escott (16) Servant and Emma Escott (2) Granddaughter. (Emma Escott bap. 14 Aug 1859 in Bampton was the "base" (illegitimate) daughter of Sarah Escott.) Sarah Escott (19) from Bampton, Devon was a Dairymaid in the household of Joseph Manley at Netherope, Halberton.
It appears that Mary Escott formerly Flew (née Cottrell) died in 1861 S Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 269, her age over estimated to 66.
In 1871, Robert Escott (75) Widower was lodging in High Street, Bampton.
Robert Escott died ~82 in 1878 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 319.